(A/N: Thanks for the amazing response, I'll try to write another part tonight itself and publish it for you all. Also, the next part is gonna be interesting. Okaythanksbye.)

Status: Edited

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I opened the gift a little after Manik left. Did he come just to give the gift? How did I, yet again, forget to lock the damn window?! His surprise visits were driving me to concerning craziness! 

A rose-gold iPhone 6s sat inside the cushioned box it came with. Stuck on it with a piece of cello-tape with his possible fingerprint on was a tiny SIM card and a piece of paper.

A gift for Miss. Fiancée. You lost your phone na? That's why. Vaise, now I know your new number ;)

How thoughtful of him? I mean, I still do hate him. But he isn't that bad. I surfed through my contacts to find only his number saved. 'Manik'. I pressed my obvious grin and called his line. He picked exactly on the second ring.

"Ahem. Hello Miss. Fiancée."
"Yeah... Hi. Umm... The gift... It's... uhh... nice. Thank you." I searched for words underneath my fingernails. It was rare that I got to speak nicely to him, he gave me few opportunities to do so. I didn't know why I was getting shy though.
"Hmm... So 2 days huh?" Was that how you reply to a 'thank-you'? Hmm? Seriously?
"Umm... Yeah."
"So..."

"Manik, sun. Kal mehendi aur sangeet hai, toh we won't be able to have bachelor's. Can we go tonight instead?" (Manik, listen. We have the mehendi and sangeet on tomorrow, so we won't be able to have bachelor's too.) That was Cabir and Mukti, planning his bachelor's party. Bachelor's party? I never said that was allowed?! 

"Guys, it's like the last night of my single-hood tomorrow. I can't have the party tonight. It defeats the purpose." He looked annoyed. He obviously wanted things his way.

"Bro dude, but we want a proper party. Daaru... str..." Manik cut him short, saving the details from my moth ears. 

"Fine. We'll go today. Book the place." 

"Hello?"
"What was that?" Annoyance was clear in my voice. I heard a chuckle escape his lips.
"That's none of your business." Why was he so unpredictable?
"Fine. Bye." I gritted my teeth. Idiot.

The time was four p.m. I had hardly eaten my breakfast and lunch. I had a fast going on during the ceremony and straight after I fell asleep. Then Manik came! The commotion made me dizzy. I went downstairs with the support of the railing and grabbed some food for myself. Surprisingly, there was no one at home. 

It's shocking that in a house where a wedding is happening, that the bride is left alone. I felt liberated without having someone to breath down my neck for once. I could put my legs on the coffee table, sit with them spread out wide, or eat to my heart's content without some aunty commenting on me putting on weight before my 'shaadi'. 

I served myself a hefty amount of sambar rice, threw in a few cooked curries just for the sake of 'nutrition' that I was pestered with and sat on the couch with the TV remote. I was swapping channels when I saw something.

"So today we have Manik Malhotra, the lead singer of the most demanded band in India, Fab 5." He waved his hand and I looked interested. Let's see what he has to say. "So Manik. We've recently come to know that you are getting married. Is that true? Don't you think it's a little early? Do tell us a little about her."

"Yeah. It is, very much. She's actually a girl from my college, Nandini naam hai uska, and we've been like dating for a year now. Given that I'm just 21, it is a little too early but I have no regrets. I know she's the one for me." Oh really? I gobbled one morsel, containing a smug smile.

"That's nice to know. Well, I think this news has affected a lot of your female fans." He chuckled and a small smile unfolded on my lips. "What do you have to say to them?"

"Uhh... Well hey girls. I know I have disappointed many of you. But you know, I am just one human. I can't possibly be marrying every one of you all." He laughed and the reporter smiled too. "My request to you all is to stay happy, do what you like, be positive and I will pray that may the best come to you."

"Thanks a lot Manik. I am sure your words would ease a lot of wounded hearts. After marriage, will you be continuing your career or will you be taking a break? If you are taking a break, then what will you be doing? Will marriage change your priorities?"

"Filhaal abhi I am planning to focus on my education. In fact, our entire band is focusing only on that, since this is our last year. Uske baad we'll... you know, come back to music." 

"It's nice to know that education is your priority. So you said your wedding is in 2 days, right? Is it going to be a public event or just with family?"

"It's basically only within family and relatives. I am a little reserved so... Par I will be hosting a party tonight and I am planning to invite some selected fans. Lucky draw jaisa organise karne vale hai so... yeah, the details will be up on Insta, guys." (We're organising something like a lucky draw so...)

"Sure, Manik. We will surely try to make it, if we're lucky enough. So you've said that you were dating your fiancée. What is your opinion about love?"

"Hahaha. Love? Well... what works for me may not work for other people. Hum sab alag hai, sabke apne apne definitions hai, and it's normal. For me, love is pure. When you are in love, everything about her revolves around you too. Sacrificing for your love is almost second nature, that's when you know. And pyaar toh bas ho jata hai. You won't realize, trust me." (We're all different, we have different definitions for love, and it's normal. And love just happens.)

With the amount of knowledge he was spreading in an attempt to educate his 'fans', I wondered if he ever was in love before. How did he know what love really was if he didn't experience it first-hand? If so, why would he leave her?

"Thanks for your time. We wish you a very happy married life, Manik. We will be awaiting your comeback. Stay tuned to our channel for more updates."

***

Manik was in front of the mirror, setting his hair with hair gel. "Manik, fan meet hai aaj?" (Manik, is there a fan meet today?) He was wearing a grey formal shirt and dark jeans, just the way she liked. 

"Haan Mom. Cabir has arranged something for our fans. Let's see." He turned around to see his mother. "You also come, na?"

"I wish. But ghar main bahut saare kaam karni hai. I have to go to Nandini's house. They have a puja this evening." (But there's a lot of work to do at home.) Could one task happen without Nandini's involvement, for heaven's sake? He would've thought to himself while rolling his eyes at the mention of my name. Lately everything had to be about me only. 

"Cool. I'll see you. Love you." He gave her a flying kiss and she smiled at his gesture.

"Bye Manik." Nyonika waved through the window as Manik kissed goodbye to his uncomfortable father and hopped into his BMW.

***

"Om Tapa Svinyai Namaha." The women of our neighbourhood had pallus over their shoulders as they repeated before putting raw turmeric rice and flower petals on Goddess Durga implanted outside the puja room of the house. I was sitting in front of one of her sides while the pandit was sitting on the other right across me, reciting out chants.

"Om Gynana Pupayai Namaha." I put some rice too, sighing at the clock.

Okay, how much longer now? I was seated for over an hour in that half-saree of mine my father's sister gifted for the 'sake' of gifting something, waiting for the puja Amma had arranged in my name to get over so I could go spy on the boys. I realised the 'archana' as they called it was supposed to be auspicious for a new bride, but my mind was just not in it. 

Rishabh was busy being my photographer. He was so lucky, being a boy he could escape so many such pujas. Just then, a message popped for me.

6 pictures from Cool Cabir

Rishabh nudged me and I eyed Amma who was shooting daggers at my younger brother for interrupting me. What? I had a look at the shots of Manik's haldi ceremony. He didn't pose for a single picture. He looked beyond annoyed and that made a giggle escape my lips. God, I wish I was there to record the event! Ah, the satisfaction!  "Nandini..." An aunty whisper-yelled before pinching my arm. Ouch! I gave my phone back to my brother and waited for the chants to end. 

Twenty minutes later, I was asked to bow to the Goddess and pray for a prosperous life for both my to-be-husband and I. I bowed four times, as per tradition. When I was done, each of the aunties fed me a slice of banana flipped in sugar. I joined my hands and bowed to each of them as they offered while in return I was blessed with a long marriage. 

"Aww... you look so pretty, Kanna. Kisi ka nazar na lage." (May no evil eyes reach you.) The aunties pat my cheeks gently and smiled. Amma's sister and Appa's cousins helped her with making the prasad for everyone else, as nobody goes empty handed at a wedding. Appa's brother entertained Rishabh. 

After they all left, I figured I had 20 minutes before the party began and it would take about 45 minutes for me to reach. I hurried up the stairs, changed quickly into a knee length white dress with a black lacy belt, tied into a bow. I removed my bindi and added a little colour to my lips, keeping everything else as it was for the puja. My hair didn't need any change either.

I grabbed my clutch and phone, and my heels from the shoe rack. 6:03. The party must've begun. I ignored any assumptions I had and dialed Navya's number first.

"Hello Nandini?"
"Navya, I am going to Manik's bachelor's party. Wanna join?" I didn't know why I called her. I just wanted some company, and a reason to be there.
"But you're not allowed na?" I thought about it for a moment and then remembered Cabir. He could help.
"Who cares? I'll get special entry."
"Fine. I'll be there at the venue in 15 minutes." 

I put my strappy black wedges on the seat next to me while bracing my car for the race that it was going to have to endure. It was a Friday evening and the roads were going to be jam-packed with traffic. You've got no other option Nandini... Either you sit out and wonder about all the fun they had without you or you suck it up and go and have a slice of that cake. 

The decision I had to make wasn't too hard to guess.

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(Just 2 days left for their wedding. Will their equation change? Vote and comment.)